But that didn't stop the significantly out-financed Gary Palmer from beating Paul DeMarco in Alabama's 6th Congressional district Republican runoff last night.

Palmer -- a so-called 'dark horse' -- spent almost $500,000 less than DeMarco, yet still managed to secure 62 percent of the vote.

Prior to the runoff, Palmer didn't even have the second largest checkbook. His expenditures were dwarfed by those of Will Brooke, who took out $450,000 in loans just to fall short of making the runoff.

DeMarco raised more money than Palmer on all fronts, receiving larger contributions from businesses, individuals and PACs -- amassing a total of $1,722,104.

Palmer managed to raise $1,086,567 (still not a small chunk of change), most of which he received after other candidates failed to make the runoff and contributors looked to divert their efforts.

Palmer had help

While Palmer was out-financed by DeMarco, he received BIG help from a heavy-hitting political action committee -- Club for Growth.

Club for Growth, which originally backed Chad Mathis before he failed to make the runoff, is a PAC that claims on its website to support candidates for Congress "who believe in pro-growth policies, limited government, low taxes and economic freedom, both in Republican primaries and general elections."

They didn't donate a penny to Palmer's campaign.

What they did do is spend $256,271 attacking DeMarco.

The attack ad below -- which originally contained false accusations that they were forced to remove -- is an example of the kind of support Club for Growth provided Palmer.

According to data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics, no outside money was spent attacking Palmer. If you were to consider the money Club for Growth spent attacking DeMarco as part of Palmer's campaign finance, the gap between the two candidates becomes narrower -- at least a little bit.

Who gave them the money?

Most of the money raised by both candidates came from large individual contributions -- primarily from retired individuals.

Outside of retired people, the industry that contributed the most to DeMarco, a former lawyer, was law firms. For Palmer, it was healthcare businesses.

Industries Contributing to DeMarco

Industry

Total

Retired

$105,462

Lawyers/Law Firms

$71,300

Real Estate

$50,800

Mining

$37,850

Automotive

$36,700

Insurance

$33,332

General Contractors

$22,400

Accountants

$19,800

Trucking

$17,450

Health Professionals

$16,850

Industries Contributing to Palmer

Industry

Total

Retired

$87,175

Health Professionals

$35,800

General Contractors

$31,100

Insurance

$24,150

Real Estate

$21,033

Misc Finance

$14,575

Lawyers/Law Firms

$14,300

Republican/Conservative

$12,100

Crop Production & Basic Processing

$10,400

Trucking

$8,800

All of the data from this story comes from the Center for Responsive Politics' Open Secrets website.